Shillong, March 7: In a knee-jerk reaction to the United Democratic Party’s threat to pull out of the coalition government, Meghalaya chief minister D.D. Lapang today not only made UDP Legislature Party leader Donkupar Roy his deputy but also handed over the finance ministry to him.
Addressing newsmen, Lapang said the decision to “keep the coalition partners happy” was taken at a meeting held this morning, referring to the “breakfast do” at Congress president S.C. Marak’s house.
Lapang also hinted that he might give up other portfolios like revenue, planning and industries to ensure that his two-day-old government does not fall apart.
The chief minister said he was ready to discuss whatever grievances the partners might have but refused to comment on whether his ministry would be expanded further.
Lapang said a two-day special session of the Assembly would be convened from March 11 for the swearing-in of the elected legislators and also to elect a new Speaker.
Earlier, the UDP as well as some disgruntled members of the Congress openly expressed their resentment on the allocation of portfolios. Their meetings with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) may also have prompted Lapang into giving Roy a plum portfolio.
A few Meghalaya Democratic Party (MDP) legislators are even ruing their decision to have “joined the coalition in a hurry”.
Apart from Lapang, today’s meeting was attended by taxation minister Mukul Sangma, mining and geology minister Debora C. Marak, UDP president E.K. Mawlong, UDP Legislature Party leader Donkupar Roy and health minister B.G. Momin.
The portfolio issue notwithstanding, the UDP leadership is also miffed over the inclusion of former chief minister F.A. Khonglam in the ministry. UDP general secretary S.D. Khongwir said “the decision was a surprise”. The party also felt that it was “unscrupulous” on Lapang’s part to induct other parties into the coalition so that it swelled to a jumbo-sized 38.
While the MDP said Khonglam’s inclusion is “unprecedented,” his return to the government has even stumped the Congress.
Khongwir said said the UDP would meet again to discuss the recent developments. Party legislators like R.L. Tariang, who had been given the mass and elementary education portfolio, said everything depended on “the collective will” of the UDP.